I’m not sure if you can call them trolls if they’ve sincerely lost their grip on reality, and are a significant voting block.
Really nobody in the thread is going to talk about Kremlin disinformation campaigns? That’s absolutely part of it.
Most people think the propaganda has some content they want you to believe, but in reality the propaganda has to just keep us arguing and fighting all day instead of using the magic of the internet for cooperation and personal growth by learning about all kinds of stuff and liberating our minds.
Exactly, digital divide and conquer
I feel like back in the day trolling was more of an art where you’d say something stupid to expose someone’s cognitive dissonance.
Now it just refers to people being dicks. Trolling itself has become enshittified.
There is some good bait and people don’t even care and even throw money at those people
But generally, it’s as easy as shit to pick out the bait from real opinion 🎣
I think the default comment, even here, is “I disagree”.
Folk have mistaken contraryism for discourse and argument for engagement.
I disagree!
No you don’t.
Gottem
Agreed. There are plenty of negative replies, but I sometimes feel the positive replies – like giving thanks – could be something more people could do.
hell yeah! i’ve been trying to embrace that IRL too, telling people when i’m enjoying my time with them, telling them when they have a great outfit, appreciating my friends, expressing gratitude for their friendship, even, though this is the hardest one, admitting when i’m wrong outloud
You’re doing it wrong.
Don’t tell me what to do you… You jerkface! Yeah! How do you like that!?
I know that was devastating. You’re devastated right now. Sorry.
That was perfect!
Except it’s not their fault. At least, not entirely. Every single fucking centralized social platform tweaks its content algorithm to drive engagement, and they found that the best way was to piss you off. They shove it in your face until you can’t help but say something to fight the unending flow of utter bullshit.
Block them or move to another platform. I block everyone on Facebook who feels the need to make negative comments, regardless of whether I expect to encounter them again. Really cleans up the place.
Sounds like a lack of emotional maturity.
More like an intense study of how best to exploit human nature for financial gain.
I was doing the thing you were talking about…
…being fed a manipulative stream of content to piss you off?
Yes!
Ultimately it becomes troll v troll until either trolls out leaving each troll believing they’ve out-trolled the troll.
Alot of these places are just a spot were bots and racists can argue with each other. If only it were a capsule that we could shoot into the sun.
Imagine that there’s a paving slab that sticks out right outside of your house, often causing you to fall. If that’s the 50th time you fall over due to this thing, you probably will curse at it, no matter how emotionally mature you are.
Now exchange falling over to being trolled.
B-B-But are you engaging, or are you trolling?
.
.
.…Yes?
The reason it was the mantra back then was because there was always at least a few new people and people who were just kind of dull that simply didn’t get it and needed such a thing constantly repeated
I kinda get it, but I also understand why it happens. People are outraged by how the world is being fucked up and they speak out. It’s resistance to Idiocracy. They may be feeding trolls but saying nothing is ignorant compliance. So claiming it’s their fault feels like victim blaming. Also, the amount of neuro diverse people is also growing. They, we, often don’t understand sarcasm and trolling and take too much seriously. And are triggered by things meant to be a joke.
It’s funny how I reply seriously on this post. It’s like I’m inviting trolls to take me hard. I say: bring it! I brought lube.
Yes, that’s why social media should I.) allow downvoting, ii.) use an algorithm that reduces the prominence of downvoted posts and iii.) actively remove bot accounts that attempt to game the voting system. Most social media do none of these things, and in fact push controversial takes.
There was a study done (can’t find it anymore) that said to respond once to clarify and then walk away.
It is definitely victim blaming. Op thinks no one will notice what they are doing.
Oh come on, don’t feed this troll…
Lol yeah that’s what I was thinking. This is one of those posts where op thinks no one will notice they are trying to prove a point.
Even back then, the largest a forum became the less likely it was for trolls to starve in it. What we’re seeing is just the continuation of that.
This is a good point.
I think “old internet” culture was unsustainable as it scaled up, even without algos fanning the flames.
